Magna Carta: A Commentary on the Great Charter of King John / With an Historical Introduction

by William Sharp McKechnie

[1094]. The text is founded on that of the Statutes of the Realm, I. 1; but has been also collated with the admirable text prepared by M. Bémont, Chartes, 1–6, whose emendations have been freely used not only for this Charter, but for all those which follow in this Appendix. M. Bémont gives an exhaustive account of the copies of the lost original of Henry’s charter.

[1095]. The text is founded on that of the Statutes of the Realm, I. 3. Cf. Bémont, Chartes, 8–10, who discusses the various editions. Mr. R. Lane Poole has noted the variants of an original of the Charter preserved in the muniment room of Salisbury Cathedral; see Report on Manuscripts in Various Collections, I. 384-5 (Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1901). Two of these variants have been here adopted (a) “regem Anglie” for “regem Anglorum” and (b) “postmodum” added after “pontifice.”

[1096]. The text is taken from that given in Statutes of the Realm, I. 4, which is founded on a copy of the original preserved in the British Museum (Cotton, Claudius D. II., folio 107). Cf. Bémont, Chartes, 12–14.

[1097]. See supra, pp. 202-5 and Index. The text is founded upon that published by Mr. J. H. Round in the English Historical Review, VIII. 288, but effect has been given to most of the emendations suggested by Mr. Hubert Hall and Mr. G. W. Prothero. Cf. Ibid., IX. 117 and 326. The copy in the French Archives follows, on the same parchment, a copy of the Charter of Liberties of Henry I. from which it is separated by the following words (indicating the nature of both documents, the one that had gone before and the other that was to follow): “Hec est Carta Regis Henrici per quam barones querunt libertates et hec consequentia concedit Rex Johannes.” Then follow twelve clauses which are here numbered for convenience of reference, although no numbers appear in the copy.

[1098]. The text is taken from that of the Statutes of the Realm, I. 7-8, which is founded on the original in the British Museum. See supra, 200–202. Cf. Bémont, Chartes, 15–23.

[1099]. The text follows that of New Rymer, I. 133, but has been collated with Rot. Pat., I. 143 (17 John m. 23) and two corrections made. This writ is here given as a specimen of many despatched during the week following the truce at Runnymede, intimating that peace had been made, and instructing release of hostages, etc. This writ is referred to supra 48 n. and 49 n. where its date is discussed.

[1100]. See supra, p. [522]. The text is given in New Rymer, I. 134, and in Rot. Pat., I. 144 (17 John m. 23).

[1101]. See supra, pp. 50-51, 512–3 and 552. The text is taken from Rot. Pat., I. 180 (17 John m. 23, d.). It will be found also in New Rymer, I. 134, and in Stubbs Sel. Chart., 306–7.

[1102]. See supra, p. [553]. The text is given by New Rymer, I. 134, and in Rot. Pat., I. 134 (17 John, m. 21). A French version appears in D’Achery, Spicilegium, XII. 573, and in Bémont, Chartes, xxiv. n.

[1103]. See supra, pp. 51-2 and 560-1. The text is taken from New Rymer, I. 133 on the authority of Rot. Claus., 17 John, m. 27 d. It is printed by Blackstone, Great Charter, 25–6.